Library University: A Staff Learning Academy
St. Charles City-County Library, Mo.
Library Operations & Management
| 2019
Innovation Synopsis
Library University is a curriculum of over 25 staff learning courses meant to prepare new staff for their positions, and provide personal and professional development for current staff. Originally developed to cultivate librarianship skills for the paraprofessionals of the district, the program now serves all staff, from library page to director.
Challenge/Opportunity
- Training: Find an effective way for new paraprofessionals to learn the technical and soft skills needed.
- Resources: Find a way to produce quality content, without a budget or staff exclusively allocated to the program.
- In utilizing the skills and expertise of existing personnel — about 20 key staff members — to develop, review, instruct, evaluate and adapt each course to provide the training needed, these challenges are met with the added benefit of providing professional development for our instructors.
Key Elements of Innovation
- Responsiveness: As needs arise, new classes are developed or adapted.
- Ownership: Courses are made by staff, for staff. All staff participate in some aspect.
- Value: Providing staff development opportunities shows an investment in the value of our staff, enhancing their value in the organization and, in turn, customer experience.
- Networking: The opportunity to share ideas and tips, and to learn from their peers from other locations.
Achieved Outcomes
- Staff are developing confidence in their skills and the ability to help customers.
- Customer experience is enhanced.
- The program has provided the opportunity for staff development, and has helped to add value to their employment and as a contributor to the success of our district.
- Staff-instructors have developed leadership and other professional skills.
- The nature of this program, is that it will forever evolve to serve the needs of our staff, and in turn, our customers.
